stieringer



(No Model.) I 2 SheetsSheet 1.

L. STIERINGBR.

EXTENSION ELEGTROLIERS.

No. 272,169. Patented Feb. 13,1883.

WITNESSES: NVBNTOR:

r4. Pcrcns PhMo-Lalbog lphcr, Washinglon. u. c.

Nd Model. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. STI ERINGE R.

EXTENSION ELEGTROL IERS.

No. 272,169. Patented Feb. 13,1883.

WITNESSES:

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER STIEBINGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

\ EXTENSlON-ELECTROLIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,169, dated February13, 1883, Application filed September '7. 1882. (X0 model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LUTHER STIERINGER, of thecity, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Extension-Electroliers, of which the followin g is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to provide an extension or adjustableelectrolier, bracket, stand-lamp, or other form of electrical fixturefor use withincandescing electric lamps,which shall be of simpleconstruction and operation, and shall be efficient and durable in use;and said invention consists in the novel devices and combinations ofdevices employed by me in accomplishing this object, as hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

Fixtures embodying myinvention are shown in the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of a twoarmed electrolierconstructed according to myinvention; Fig. 2, a transverse section ofthe main supporting-stem of the same; Fig.3, a perspective view of theupper portion of the inner or supporting rod; Fig. 4, a view of amodification of the inner or supporting rod; Fig. 5, an elevation of anadjustable standlam p cm bod ying some of the features of the invention,and Fig. 6a horizontal section of the same through the sliding boxthereof.

A is a rod of suitable insulating material,

such substances as hard rubber and vulcanized fiber being well adaptedfor the purpose. This rod has a'central core, a, preferably of steel,and secured against longitudinal movement within the insulating-rod byone or more cross-pins, I), Fig. 3. The object of this metal core is tostrengthen the rod and prevent it from breaking without entirelydestroying its elasticity. Two sides of the insulating-rod are groovedand dovetailed, as seen at c c, and in the dovetails are driven metalstrips 6?, held merely by friction, so that they can contract and expandindependent of the insulating supporting-rod, and will not be buckled bythe bending of such rod. Each strip or band d may, however, be held atone pointto prevent displacement, care being taken not to makeconnection with the metal strengthening-core. The edges 0 of thegroovesc project beyond the metal strips d, protecting such strips fromaccidental contact with external metallic parts.

The upper end of the core a screws into the block 6, from which the rodA is supported, upon which block 0 rests the canopy B. The pipef, whichextends upward from block 6, is screwed to the house-pipe g, projectingdownwardly from the ceiling.

If desired, an insulating -joint like that shown in my Patent No.259,235 may be used in connecting the pipes f g. The insulated wires 1 2may either pass through the pipe 9 or outside of it, as shown. throughthe block 6 the wires are soldered to the conducting-strips (I. extendquite to the top of the insulating portion A, so that there is no dangerof an accidental short-circuit across the top of the rod.

0 is an inclosing metal tube lined with hard rubber, vulcanized fiber,or other suitable insulating material, It. The insulating portion It hasdovetailed grooves it, which hold by friction met-ii strips j j, whichcome opposite the strips (1 d of the inner rod. The grooves '5 are alsoprovided with projecting edges to pro tect the strips j.

To the lower end of strips j j are soldered the wires 3 ti within thedistributing-body D, into which is screwed the tube 0, and from whichextend the arms E E, each carrying an incandescing electric lamp, F.Vithin the body the wire connections to the lamps are also made, asshown.

Instead of a distributing-body with a number oflamp-arms projectingtherefrom, a socket for a single lamp may be connected directly with thelower end of the tube 0.

Each metal stripjj carries at its upper end a contact-spring, 7a, whichbears against one of the strips d. d in the grooves c c, and is guidedby the projecting sides of the groove, asliding electrical contact thusbeingprovided. A washer, l, of an insulating substance, preferablyleather, is attached to the lower end of rod A, to cause a certainamount of friction between said rod and the outer tube. By this meansthe parts are better guided, and the nice adjustment of thecounter-poise weight or weights which support the outer tube at thedesired height is rendered unnecessary. The contact-springs k assistalso in this by their friction. Such counterpoise-weights are arrangedpreferably as follows:

After passing Such stripsdo not To fingers m m, projecting from the tubeG, are attached chains or cords an, passing over pulleys o 0, which aresupported by arms 19 p, projecting from the block 6. To the chains a aare suspended weight-sq g, which are shown as connected together, bothbeing attached to a ring, 7", encircling and sliding upon the tube 0;but the weights may be separate, if desired, and one weight alone couldbe used.

The counter-weights used in an extensionelectrolier and in connectionwith the sliding electrical contacts have an especial advantage notpossessed by counter-weights when employed in an extensiongas-chandelier. In an extension gas-chandelier it is necessary that thesliding part should pass through gas-tight stuffing-boxes, or be sealedgas-tight by means of aw ater-chamber. lVith the stuffing-boxes thecounter-weights have to be made heavy enough to overcome the greaterpart of the excessive friction, and variations which occur in thatfriction cause the weights to raise the slide or make the slide stickfast. With the water'seal the evaporation of the water destroys thebalance and makes the slideinoper- Y ative. In my extensionelectrolier,however,the

counter-weights are opposed only to the weight of the sliding part ofthe electrolier, which remains constant, only sut'iicient friction beingprovided by means ofthe contact-springs alone, or with the aid of thewasher l or equivalent device, to avoid the necessity of an exactadjustment, and to overcome the slight additional weight thrown upon oneside or the other by the cords or small chains at different degrees ofextension.

Thecounter-weightsintheextension-elcctrolier form an exceedingly cheap,durable, and eflicient device for the purpose for which they are used.

The construction shown of sliding and Sta tionary parts may be reversed,the tube 0 being attached above and the rod A secured tothedistributing-body, so that the rod is moved up and down within thetube; but the arrangement shown is preferable, for here theconducting-strips are never exposed except near the top of the fixture,where they are out of reach, while it the rod slid out of the tube itsconductors would be exposed whenever the lamps are lowered, in whichcase the danger ol" the occurrence of a short-circuit would beincreased.

The supporting-rod A can be made, if desired, in the form shown in Fig.4, the core a dividing theinsulating portion into two parts, and beingof an H shape, so as to inclose two sides of the insulation, the othertwo sides being grooved to hold the conducting-strips, as before. Theinsulation should, however, extend beyond the edges of the core, asshown, to prevent the possibility of a short-circuit.

Instead of the conducting-stripsj within the tube 0, wires may be runthrough the tube, extending downwardly from the contact-spring 7c andseparated by insulation fromthe bands of the rod; or such wires may beplaced in small tubes within or outside of the tube U; or a square tubemight be placed inside the circular tube O and the wires run in thespaces between them.

Theamount of insulating material necessary within the outer tube may bereduced by merely placing grooved strips of such material on two sidesof the tube, opposite the metal bands of the inner rod, and omitting iton the remaining portion.

The peculiar supporting-rod A, carrying the contact strips or hands ingrooves, may be applied to other forms of electrical fixtures besidesextension-eleetrolierssuch,forinstance, as to extension Wall-brackets orto adjustable stand-lamps. The application to adjustable stand-lamps isshown in Figs. 5 and 6, the form of supporting-rod illustrated in Fig.4. being shown as used for the special purpose.

The rod A is supported upon a base, G, through which passes the flexiblecord H, having its conductors secured to the strips or bands at d or, ifthe base G is stationary, ordinary wires will be run up through or alongthe support to the inside of the base, where they will be secured to thestrips (1 d.

I is a box sliding on the rod A, and secured at any point of adjustmentby the set-screw I. .This sliding box has one or more lamp arms, K,projecting therefrom, provided with incandescing electric lamps F.

plates springs t project, pressing upon the bands 01 d of thesupporting-rod A, and completing the circuit through the lamp or lamps.

What I claim is 1. In extension or adjustable electrical fixtures, therod of insulating material having a metallic core and supportingmetallic conductors, substantially as set forth.

2. In extension or adjustable electrical fixtures, the metal contactstrips or bands 01 (Z or j j, held in dovetail grooves of supporting in-The wires 3 4 from each lamp-arm run to metal blocks or F plates 8within the box I, from which blocks or 1 5. The combination, with theinner rod of lined with insulation, such insulation being tact springs,of a counterpoise Weight or provided with similar grooves holding corre-Weights proportioned to counterbalance the spending" conducting strips,and contactweight only of the movable part, substantially springselectrically connecting opposite strips, as set forth.

substantially as set forth. This specification signed and witnessed this15 7. In an extension-electrolier, the conibina- 9th day of August,1882.

tion, with a rod ofinsulation having a strength- LUTHER STIERINGER.

ening-core, and provided with metal strips or hands held in dovetailgrooves, and an inclosing-tube provided with conductors and con-Witnesses:

WM. H. MEADoWoRoF'r, H. W. SEELY.

